Two new structures in Smithton are the sign of new jobs and opportunities in Circular Head. Britton Timbers has begun constructing innovative pre-drying sheds for timber while the Circular Head Christian School has completed the final stage of its campus upgrade. Britton Timbers director Shawn Britton said the company worked with University of Tasmania researchers for two years to explore the science behind the timber drying process. “What we found is by being able to dry timber in controlled climates it can dry a lot faster and we can get a lot better quality out of the end of it,” he said. “So this is the first stage of it, building large pre-drying sheds.” The sheds will have instruments to monitor the weather so that the company can move its Tasmanian Blackwood and Tasmanian Oak based on the conditions. The project will cost more than $750,000 with $368,000 coming from the Federal Regional Jobs and Investment Package. Mr Britton said Britton Timbers would employ five additional full-time staff to operate the new sheds after they are built by the end of the year. “We’re expecting to recover about 20 per cent more wood volume that can be sold into the marketplace.” Tasmanian Liberal Senator Richard Colbeck said the project was important for generating “jobs and growth”. “Over recent years we’ve seen a constraint on the volumes of timber that have come out of Tasmanian forests so getting a higher yield, a higher return out of that simply makes sense to ensure that we get the best value for the products that are generated from the mill.” Meanwhile, Circular Head Christian School benefited from a $392,000 grant from the federal government’s Capital Grants Program to build an administration area. Principal Ana Popowski said the months of inconvenience had paid off as the school now had a functional building. “We feel very blessed that we have such a wonderful facility and it just compliments the rest of the school,” she said. The modern building features connected work spaces, a new parent meeting room and security features. The $952,000 project was completed by Stanley-based company Wallace &amp; Walters Builders.

Britton Timber and Circular Head Christian School show signs of growth in Circular Head

Two new structures in Smithton are the sign of new jobs and opportunities in Circular Head.

Britton Timbers has begun constructing innovative pre-drying sheds for timber while the Circular Head Christian School has completed the final stage of its campus upgrade.

Britton Timbers director Shawn Britton said the company worked with University of Tasmania researchers for two years to explore the science behind the timber drying process.

“What we found is by being able to dry timber in controlled climates it can dry a lot faster and we can get a lot better quality out of the end of it,” he said.

“So this is the first stage of it, building large pre-drying sheds.”

The sheds will have instruments to monitor the weather so that the company can move its Tasmanian Blackwood and Tasmanian Oak based on the conditions.

The project will cost more than $750,000 with $368,000 coming from the Federal Regional Jobs and Investment Package.

Mr Britton said Britton Timbers would employ five additional full-time staff to operate the new sheds after they are built by the end of the year.

“We’re expecting to recover about 20 per cent more wood volume that can be sold into the marketplace.”

Tasmanian Liberal Senator Richard Colbeck said the project was important for generating “jobs and growth”.

“Over recent years we’ve seen a constraint on the volumes of timber that have come out of Tasmanian forests so getting a higher yield, a higher return out of that simply makes sense to ensure that we get the best value for the products that are generated from the mill.”

Signs of growth in Circular Head

Bright future: Circular Head Christian School captains Isaac Popowski and Nicholas Huisman show Senator Colbeck their new admin building with principal Ara Popowski.